&#34;No worries&#34; surfboard key safe

ABSTRACT

A modular receptacle for mounting in a surfboard or the like, for securing articles therein, having a body, a cover plate, shelf bars, a compressible insert, and screws to provide secure fastening of the cover plate in the body on the shelf bars. There are mounting tabs on the exterior of the body to assist in correct installation of the device into the body of a surfboard or the like. The device is small, lightweight, and compact. It is specifically designed to provide secure storage of auto/home keys and paper money without interfering with the performance of the surfboard or the like.

PARENT CASE TEXT

Cross reference to Provisional Patent Application 60/561,197, filed Apr. 12, 2004. The inventor claims domestic priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C., Section. 119 (e) on the basis of the above referenced Provisional Patent Application.

REFERENCES CITED

U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,860 Jul. 7, 1992 KRAFT

U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,835 Sep. 11, 1990 HOLLINGSWORTH

STATEMENT

There was no Federal sponsorship for research and development of this project

SEQUENCE LISTING

There is no sequence listing to a computer disc. No computer disc is submitted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A serious problem associated with the sports of surfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, and knee boarding is: the safe storage of vehicle and/or domicile keys, and paper money while the individual is in the ocean enjoying their sport. It is essential to have a safe and worry free location to store keys/money without the risk of theft, accidental loss or worry.

Currently, surfers of all types typically hide or conceal keys and money, in areas around, on, in or near their vehicles. These areas are always susceptible to observation by others. These hiding places leave the surfers vulnerable to theft or loss of not only funds and possessions, but even of their vehicle itself. The object of this invention is to provide a safe, easily accessible compartment which is contained in the board the surfers are taking with them into the water. This compartment will allow the surfers to store the aforementioned items safely, and to provide peace of mind to those who are preparing for and enjoying their board related water sport.

This invention is unique and it is expected that it will be readily accepted and utilized as it is small, lightweight, and specialized to hold only keys and paper money. This invention uses standardized surfing industry installation techniques and materials, and will not adversely affect the structural strength of the surfing device. This invention can be installed either by the original manufacturer of the surfing board, or be installed as an “after market” product by almost any retailer of surfing equipment.

A search of the data base indicates only two remotely similar devices (see references cited, above). Both these devices are much larger, bulky and complex. They are primarily designed to be placed in the deck of wind surfing boards. One is large and rectangular and has many compartments. The other is large and circular and is nearly as deep as a modern surfboard is thick. Neither of these have the usability or utility required for the lightweight water sports boards of today.

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention, hereafter referred to as the “No Worries surfboard key safe”, or, “No Worries”, is an oblong shaped receptacle, with a snug fitting lid, small in size and light in weight, which provides for the safe storage of and convenient access to, vehicle and/or domicile keys, and paper money.

It will be countersunk into the bottom surface of a surfing board or other water sports related device. It will be centered along the stringer or midline of the surfing device, and it will be flush with that bottom surface, eliminating interference with the performance of the surfing device.

“No Worries” will be composed of a durable lightweight plastic material as is currently used in the surfing industry for fin channels, fin cups and leash cups. The main components of “No Worries” will be produced by an injection molding process to assure strength, durability, and quality.

The use of “No Worries” will provide peace of mind for surfers of all sorts, world wide. No longer will these sportsmen and women have to worry that a thief might uncover the hiding place of their car keys or money, for these items will be right there with them securely fastened to their board. All surfers will now have peace of mind knowing that when they leave the water that their vehicles, their possessions and their money will have been undisturbed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

1. The view shows an exploded perspective view of the “No Worries” surfboard key safe, as well as a proportional view of the key safe inserted in place in the bottom of a standard 9′ surfboard.

A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a novel device, characterized by its compact design light weight and lack of intrusion into the design/structural strength of the water sports related board into which it will be inserted.

With reference to the drawing: There is shown the body of the key housing 1, which is integrally formed of injection molded plastic of a type currently in standard usage in water related board sports manufacturing today.

Said key housing body has four mounting tabs 8 attached to the sides of the key housing body 1, flush with the top rim of the key housing body 1. Said mounting tabs 8 are removed during the installation process.

Said key housing body has two shelf bars 7 integral and part of the inner wall of the key housing body 1, along the longer inside walls of said key housing body 1.

Said key housing body 1 has two shelf bars 6 integral and part of the inner wall of the key housing body 1, along the shorter inside walls of said key housing body 1.

There is a compressible sponge insert 2 of the exact size necessary to fit into the aperture created by the integral four walls and bottom of the key housing body 1. The compressible sponge insert 2 fits exactly underneath the two longer side shelf bars 7, and the two shorter side shelf bars 6, which are along the sides of the of the integral four walls of the key housing body 1. This compressible sponge insert 2, when in place, secures and prevents movement of objects placed into the key housing body 1.

There is a cover plate 3 which is integrally formed of injection molded plastic currently in standard usage in water related board sports, and which is the same material utilized in the key housing body 1. The cover plate 3 is exactly of the size necessary to fit snugly into the key housing body 1. In use, the cover plate 3 rests precisely on top of the long side shelf bars 7 and the short side shelf bars 6, and within the key housing body 1, flush with the top rim of the key housing body 1.

There are two hex screws 4, of stainless steel, which fasten the cover plate 3 into the shorter side shelf bars 6 of the key housing body 1.

The holes in the cover plate 3 for the hex screws 4 precisely fit over the holes in the short side shelf bars 6, and are precisely the size necessary for the hex screws 4 to firmly fasten the cover plate 3 flush with the top of the key housing body 1.

Reference then the view of a surfboard with the No Worries surfboard key safe 5 inserted along the center stringer of the surfboard just forward of the fin.

The installation of the “No Worries” follows the industry standardized procedures for the placement of fin channels or fin boxes, as follows:

The surf board is placed bottom up and is secured to the appropriate racks or stands for this purpose.

The “No Worries” is placed in the desired position long the centerline/stringer of the board, and its outline is marked. A jig may placed and used for this purpose.

A high speed router with the appropriate bit is utilized to cut an aperture in the bottom of the surfing board slightly larger in all respects than the body of the “No Worries”, and as deep as is necessary for the body of the key safe to rest on the stringer, and the mounting tabs to rest on the outer surface of the surfboard.

At this point, masking tape should be applied to the bottom of the surfboard, around the aperture, leaving a margin of 1/16″ to ⅛″ of space between the outer edge of the aperture and the inner edge of the masking tape.

The body of the “No Worries surfboard key safe is then preliminarily wiped with acetone to ensure a good bond with the resins used to locate and fasten the body of the device within the body of the surfboard. A small amount of catalyzed resin is painted on the bottom of the body of the “No Worries”, as well as on the upward facing surface of the aperture made within the body of the surfboard.

The body of the device is then placed and centered within the aperture, and held in place with a small weight until the catalyzed resin has hardened. There should be a space of between 1/16″ to ⅛″ of an inch space between the outer edge of the body of the device and the inner edges of the aperture, all around the perimeter of the body of the device.

A mixture of resin and glass micro balloons, of the consistency necessary to form a loose flowing paste, is then catalyzed and poured into the space between the body of the “No Worries” surfboard key safe and the walls of the aperture. When this is hardened, the body of the device is permanently emplaced in the body of the surfing board.

Then, utilizing a router or a power sander, or hand sanding techniques, the tabs and upper lip of the device is sanded flush with the bottom of the surfboard.

The installer may then wish to further seal this installation by painting the rim of the device and sanded areas of the bottom of the surf board with a gloss resin and finish by buffing to a high gloss. Alternatives may include the installation of another layer of fiberglass cloth over the device, the use of various Teflon sealers, or a commercial polyurethane spray as sealers.

Following this one may insert a key into the body of the device, place the compressible foam sponge on top of the key within the body of the device and fasten down the cover plate using the two hex screws which fit into the holes in the shorter edges of the cover plate and which extend into the two holes in the shorter bars of the inner ledge of the device.

Given that the proper installation of the “No Worries” surfboard key safe has been made, this 0.875″ deep, 3.75″ long and 1.813″ wide device provides minimum weight and size interference in the high performance surfing crafts of today. Along with the assurance that one's surfing performance will not be affected, there is an absolute assurance that one's keys and money are safe, and that at the end of the day one can drive home with “No Worries”.

After having described and illustrated the invention as well as the preferred embodiment, it is understood that minor modifications or changes may be made therein without abandoning the spirit or function of the invention as stated in the appended claims. 

1. A modular receptacle to recess in a surfboard or other water sports related surfing device providing for the safe containment of items placed therein, comprising: An integrally formed oblong body having a bottom wall, two long side walls, and two short side walls having rounded upright corners at all four corners of the oblong body, and said long walls and said short walls having a ledge formed by the shelf bars, which is formed on the interior surface around the interior perimeter of said long and said short walls which forms an interior ledge below the upper rim of said oblong body with an aperture below said ledges extending downward to said bottom wall of the said body. Said oblong body also having four mounting tabs at the end corners of each said long side wall just before the said long side wall joins with the said short side wall. Said short side shelf bars each have a hole of the exact size necessary, centered in their upper surfaces. A compressible sponge insert of exactly the size necessary to fit the aperture created in said oblong body, below said short side shelf bars and said long side shelf bars in which said shelf bars run the inside perimeter of said body below the rim of said body, and above the said bottom wall of said oblong body: A thin integrally formed oblong cover plate, having four straight edges with the outer corners being round. There are two longer sides of said cover plate and two shorter sides of said cover plate. Each of the said shorter sides having a hole centered in said side which extends completely through the thickness of said cover plate and which centers exactly over the said hole in the said short side of said integral short side shelf bar of said body. Two stainless steel hex screws which fit exactly the holes in said cover plate and pass through said cover plate and fasten and fit exactly into said holes in said short wall shelf bars in said oblong body, which when items are placed in said oblong body and are secured by said compressible sponge are sealed by the two set screws fastening said cover plate firmly flush with the top rim of said oblong body. Said oblong body with said cover plate and said integral shelf bars and said sponge insert being flush mounted within an aperture in the bottom of a water sports board for surfing.
 2. A modular receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the outer dimensions of said cover plate edges are smaller than the inner dimensions of the integral walls of said body of said receptacle, said cover plate being received within said body and when placed therein, will rest on said shelf bars, said holes in said cover plate being directly above said holes in said short side shelf bars within said body and when fastened over said sponge insert and fastened with said screws contains items placed within said body.
 3. A modular receptacle according to claim 1 with exterior mounting tabs on the exterior long side walls of said oblong body with said tabs being exactly flush with the top rim of said oblong body, and mounted on said long side walls just before the juncture of said rounded corner with said short side walls, and with exterior mounting tabs according to claim 1 which when the said oblong body of said receptacle is mounted in said surfboard and said mounting tabs and said upper rim of said receptacle are removed that said aperture remaining above said ledges is exactly of the size to receive said cover plate.
 4. A modular receptacle according to claim 1 with interior shelf bars around the inside perimeter of said oblong body which form an aperture below the bottoms of said shelf bars which is encompassed by said long walls and said short walls and said bottom wall for the insertion of keys. With said interior shelf bars forming a surface for the placing of said cover plate within the body of said oblong body and fitted with holes of the exact size to allow the fastening of said cover plate flush with the rim of said oblong body. 